A note on the words: Okinawa is the subtropical island chain at the far southwest of Japan, and its cooking is its own thing. Umibudo, sea grapes, is a seaweed whose beads pop like roe. Rafute is pork belly simmered slowly until it collapses, and soki soba is Okinawan wheat noodles topped with stewed pork ribs. Pochigi is an Okinawan sausage, Orion is the island beer, and Blue Seal is the Okinawan ice cream brand. Yanbaru, in the shop name, is what Okinawans call the forested north of the main island. The railway arches at Yurakucho are the brick viaduct carrying the trains through central Tokyo, and the small bars and restaurants tucked beneath it are an institution. Prices are as of this writing (August 2026).
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Book a table at Yanbaru Diner on AutoReserve (English)
Hello, this is Hangover Meshi. So, this time we were around Yurakucho wanting a quick drink, and while drifting along under the railway arches, Okinawa caught my eye! Now and then you want Okinawan food, do you not. Seeing the sign brought that feeling welling up, so straight inside I went. It is under the arches, but the impression is of a good deal of room lol There are stairs inside and the shape of the place is unusual, but it looks like somewhere you can eat at your leisure!
A sign saying “food only is fine too!” makes it very easy to walk into, which is a good thing.
There is a big menu as well, which is promising. This was only a light drink, so rather than anything heavy the plan was beer first and a spread of small things to pick at.
Right, of course! The first order is an Orion beer!
I do not know quite why, but if Orion is there I end up ordering it. Perhaps because you do not see it often.
And then we worked through the standards, a little at a time.
You have to have it! Umibudo!
They are ordinary umibudo, mind, but the moment they are on the table it suddenly feels like Okinawa! A lemon comes with them, and a squeeze gives a pleasant sourness.
A common thing in Okinawa, perhaps? Pochigi sausage.
It is a lightly spicy chorizo sort of thing, and it goes with beer.
Well, you always order the rafute! Simmered until soft, and very good.
What was this again lol lol A neat little round size, easy to eat!
Picking at all sorts of small plates while drinking Orion and highballs and whatever else, very comfortably^^
And at the end, this is what I chose for dessert.
Well now, they had this!
Apparently it is an Okinawan ice cream brand. The packaging is blue and looks wonderfully cool!
It suits the close of a drinking session perfectly. Cold, clean ice cream to cool a flushed body!
How to put it — the food is straightforwardly good, and it felt like a genuinely comfortable room. For the everyday use of a quick one, is it not just right? It is right by Yurakucho Station too, so it is easy to drop into, and since the sign said food only is fine, you could also use it for stopping off after work for nothing but a bowl of soki soba. It was a good spot, so I shall remember it.
Yanbaru Diner (Okinawan / Yurakucho Station, Hibiya Station, Ginza Station)
Tabelog dinner rating ★★★☆☆ 3.3
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
